The state Department of Health Care Services is seeking to revoke the license of Costa Mesa substance abuse facility Pacific Coast Detox, after a patient died at the center and staff was accused of falsifying his medical records.

State spokeswoman Carol Sloan said the facility’s license has been suspended pending the outcome of a revocation hearing, which was requested by Pacific Coast. A date has not yet been set.

According to legal documents issued Nov. 7, an unidentified male patient died while detoxing at Pacific Coast. State certification standards require a newly admitted patient to be checked at least every 30 minutes during the first 12 hours after admission to monitor withdrawal symptoms.

The state investigation, however, found that Pacific Coast did not check the patient as frequently as required and “staff entered false information in decedent’s file,” the documents say.

At some point, staff attempted to awaken the patient without success. The documents say that as paramedics were on their way, two staff members made false entries suggesting observational checks had been made. Investigators observed security camera footage and found the patient was checked only once, though the documents, which contain partial redactments, don’t specify over what time period.

Courtney Perkes has covered the medical beat for the Register since 2005. She was queasy when she watched surgery for the first time (a knee replacement) especially when a drop of blood splattered in her notebook! She loves writing about public health issues as well as the courage and resilience of patients facing illness. Courtney strives to lead a healthy lifestyle that includes yoga and not microwaving plastic. She is a graduate of Northwestern University's Medill School of Journalism.